Tube-plate interconnection

ABSTRACT

An interconnection between a tube and a plate in which said tube is received in an opening in the plate and said tube and plate are movable radially with respect to each other, said tube and plate being radially movable with respect to the tube axis. A pair of washers are disposed on opposite sides of the plate around the tube and over the plate opening with a pair of projections on the tube holding the washers against said plate. One of said washers has a sleeve engageable with the other washer to prevent said washers from binding against the plate thereby permitting relative movement between said plate and tube.

United States Patent 1191 Scheitlin et al.

[ Sept. 25, 1973 1 TUBE-PLATE INTERCONNECTION [75] Inventors: GeorgeEdward Scheitlin; Gene Richard Hanson, Columbus, Ohio [73] Assignee:Arvin Industries, Inc., Columbus,

Ind.

[22] Filed: May 22, 1972 21 App1.No.:255,694

1,491,873 4/1924 McMurtrie 285/206 X 265,886 10/1882 Stover 285/205 X2,530,855 11/1950 Bugg et :11 .1 285/222 X 2/1949 Donner 285/192 XPrimary E. \ran1inerThomas F. Callaghan Attorney'l"homas P. Jenkins eta1.

[57] ABSTRACT An interconnection between a tube and a plate in whichsaid tube is received in an opening in the plate and said tube and plateare movable radially with respect to each other, said tube and platebeing radially movable with respect to the tube axis. A pair of washersare disposed on opposite sides of the plate around the tube and over theplate opening with a pair of projections on the tube holding the washersagainst said plate. One of said washers has a sleeve engageable with theother washer to prevent said washers from binding against the platethereby permitting relative movement between said plate and tube,

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures l l l 1 1 1 I l l? 23 20 TUBE-PLATEINTERCONNECTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture ofvarious devices it is sometimes necessary to connect a tube to anopening in a plate by means of a slidable fit so that the tube and platecan expand and contract with respect to each other. An example of aconnection of this type is shown in copending application Ser. No.204,589, filed Dec. 3, 1971, and entitled Exhaust Gas Manifold.

In forming such connections problems have been encountered in obtainingthe proper tightness of fit between the structures interconnecting thetube and plate. If the connection is too tight, there will be no rel-SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one form of the invention,there is provided a plate having an opening found therein. A firstannular washer is carried against one face of said plate and is providedwith an axially extending sleeve at its inner circumference projectingthrough the plate opening. A second annular washer is carried againstthe opposite face of said plate and the end of said sleeve.

A tube projects through said washers and sleeve and is provided with apair of axially spaced annular projections. The projections are inengagement with the washers for holding said washers against the opposedfaces of the plate and interconnecting the tube to said plate. With thesleeve engaging the second washer, the projections will be preventedfrom bearing against said washers in a manner to cause said washers tobind against the opposed plate faces. Thus, the washers are slidablycarried against said plate faces.

The plate opening has a cross-sectional extent greater than the outerdiameter of the sleeve and smaller than the outer diameters of thewashers. Thus, the plate and tube can move radially of tube axis withrespect to each other with the washers sliding against the opposed platefaces. With said washers extending outwardly beyond the edges of theplate opening and the projections overlapping said washers little, ifany leakage will occur at the tube-plate interconnection irrespective ofany such relative movement between the tube and plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratethe invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an axial section through a tube-plate interconnectionembodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in thedrawings, this invention is concerned with the interconnection between atube 10 and a plate 12 The plate is provided with an opening 14 throughwhich the tube projects.

A first annular washer I6 is carried against one face of the plate 12. Asleeve 18 is coined upwardly around the inner circumference of washer l6and projects axially through the plate opening 14. As shown, the outerdiameter of the sleeve 18 is smaller than the crosssectional extent ofplate opening 14, and the outer diameter of washer 16 is substantiallylarger than said opening so that said washer extends outwardly over theedges of said opening against the adjacent plate face.

A second washer 20 is carried against the opposite face of the plate. Asshown, the inner diameter of washer 20 corresponds to the diameter ofthe sleeve 18, and the outer diameter of said washer is substantiallylarger than the plate opening 14 so that washer 20, like washer 16,extends outwardly over the edges of said opening against the adjacentplate face. For reasons that will become more apparent hereinafter, thesleeve 18 has an axial length at least as great as the thickness ofplate 12 so that washer 20 adjacent its inner circumference abuts theadjacent end of said sleeve and said sleeve provides a minimum spacingbetween the innter portions of said washers.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a pair of axially spaced annular projections 22and 23 are provided on tube 10. The projection 22 bears against washer16 and projection 23 bears against washer 20 to hold said washersagainst the plate 12 and to hold the tube and plate interconnected. Withthe sleeve 18 engaging'the washer 20, the projections 22 and 23 areprevented from holding washers l6 and 20 in binding engagement with theplate. Thus, the plate is free to expand and contract radially withrespect to the tube with the opposed plate faces sliding against thewashers. During such sliding movement the overlapping relationships ofthe washers with the plate opening 14 and projections 22 and 23 willprevent leakage around the tube plate interconnection. With the washersl6 and 20 being slidably retained against the opposed plate faces, thetube 10 is also free to expand and contract radially with respect to theplate 12. Again, during such movements the overlapping relationships ofthe washers with plate opening 14 and projections 22 and. 23 willprevent gas leakage around the tube-plate interconnection.

While the invention has been illustrated as having the projections 22and 23 formed integrally on 'the tube, it is to be understood, ofcourse, that :said projections can be in the form of collars welded orotherwise rigidly secured to the outer tube face. As will also beapparent, the plate need not be planar, but if desired, can have anarcuate configuration at or near its connection to the tube.

We claim:

1. A tube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having an openingformed therein, a first annular washer abutting one face of said plate,said first washer having a sleeve portion projecting through the openingin said plate, a second annular washer abutting the plate face oppositesaid one face and one end of said sleeve portion, the opening in saidplate has a crosssection larger than the outer diameter of said sleeveportion and smaller than the outer diameters of said first and secondwashers, a tube extending through said second washer and sleeve, and apair of annular projections fixedly positioned and on said tube abuttingsaid first and second washers for retainingsaid washers in radialsliding sealing engagement with the opposed faces of said plate.

2. A tube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having an openingformed therein, a first annular washer abutting one face of said plate,said first washer having a sleeve portion projecting through the openingin said plate, said sleeve portion having a length at least equal to thethickness of said plate, a second annular washer abutting the plate faceopposite said one face and one end of said sleeve portion, the openingin said plate having a cross-section larger than the outer diameter ofsaid sleeve portion and smaller than the outer diameters of said firstand second washers, a tube extending through said second washer andsleeve portion, and a pair of annular projections fixedly positioned onsaid tube and abutting said first and second washers for retaining saidwashers in radial sliding sealing engagement with the opposed faces ofsaid plate.

3. A tube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having an openingformed therein, a pair of annular washers slidably carried against theopposed faces of said plate, said washers having inner and outerdiameters respectively substantially smaller and greater than thecross-section of the plate opening, means extending between and engagingsaid washers through the opening in said plate to provide a minimumspacing between the inner portions of said washers, the opening in saidplate having a cross-section larger than the outer crosssection of saidmeans, a tube extending through said washers and said means, and a pairof annular projections fixedly positioned on said tube abutting saidwashers for retaining said washers in radial sliding sealing engagementwith the opposed faces of said plate.

1. A tube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having an openingformed therein, a first annular washer abutting one face of said plate,said first washer having a sleeve portion projecting through the openingin said plate, a second annular washer abutting the plate face oppositesaid one face and one end of said sleeve portion, the opening in saidplate has a crosssection larger than the outer diameter of said sleeveportion and smaller than the outer diameters of said first and secondwashers, a tube extending through said second washer and sleeve, and apair of annular projections fixedly positioned and on said tube abuttingsaid first and second washers for retaining said washers in radialsliding sealing engagement with the opposed faces of said plate.
 2. Atube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having an opening formedtherein, a first annular washer abutting one face of said plate, saidfirst washer having a sleeve portion projecting through the opening insaid plate, said sleeve portion having a length at least equal to thethickness of said plate, a second annular washer abutting the plate faceopposite said one face and one end of said sleeve portion, the openingin said plate having a cross-section larger than the outer diameter ofsaid sleeve portion and smaller than the outer diameters of said firstand second washers, a tube extending through said second washer andsleeve portion, and a pair of annular projections fixedly positioned onsaid tube and abutting said first and second washers for retaining saidwashers in radial sliding sealing engagement with the opposed faces ofsaid plate.
 3. A tube-plate interconnection comprising a plate having anopening formed therein, a pair of annular washers slidably carriedagainst the opposed faces of said plate, said washers having inner andouter diameters respectively substantially smaller and greater than thecross-section of the plate opening, means extending between and engagingsaid washers through the opening in said plate to provide a minimumspacing between the inner portions of said washers, the opening in saidplate having a cross-section larger than the outer cross-section of saidmeans, a tube extending through said washers and said means, and a pairof annular projections fixedly positioned on said tube abutting saidwashers for retaining said washers in radial sliding sealing engagementwith the opposed faces of said plate.